What Does the State Fear?
The State is the violent organization of the rulers’ interests. The ruler and the benefactor use or directly benefit from violence so these people fear only the response of violence in return. After all, the State in any region across any time period has only ever been overthrown via violent means.
The State Official has two fears. Internally, he fears rebellion. Externally, he fears other states. All actions of the State Official and his benefactors are to plunder subjects within its jurisdiction while (i) placating the internal threat or (ii) defending against the external threat. It is no mere coincidence that The Welfare State is less competent and more wasteful than free market charity and yet exists anyway. The purpose of the State’s welfare is not charity, but to convert the groups most likely to support the State, securing political power. Likewise, it is no mere coincidence that The State's chastisement programs include incessant spying and the sabotaging of other states (threats). The imposed government is only overcome via rebellion (internally) or war (externally).
Political discourse around the topic of the veteran is an example of how The State deals with both fears. When being paid in expropriated property (taxes and surcharges), the government soldier aids The State in weakening rivals (war) while simultaneously securing more resources for The State. Upon retiring from soldier to veteran, The State expropriates more property and gives more privileges to the veteran in order to secure political favor internally, and thus help protect itself from rebellion. When the subject cries out to "protect veterans", he is implicitly stating, “I was enslaved once to secure the rulership of my masters. I ought to be enslaved once more to care for the needs of its warriors.” Thus, the soldier is an example of the State Official dealing with his fear of external threats, while the veteran is an example of him dealing with his fear of internal threats.
Antitrust enforcement is an example of responding to the internal threat of businesses that have become too successful. Mercantilism is an example of responding to external threats of other states or other economies.
In terms of fear, the statist is one who believes that the State’s fears ought to be his own. The statist either
reacts to [real or imagined] internal threats to The State
Extremism
Racism
Criminals
“Power of the People”
reacts to [real or imagined] external threats to The State
Terrorism!
The Environment!
The Communists!
The Fascists!
There is no distinction between fears of the State and fears of the Individuals who support it. There are only Individuals anyway, and these are all fears.